Crew Falls To Red Bulls In Exhibition

The Crew closed the first trip of its preseason with a 2-0 loss to New York in Bradenton,
Fla.

Two days after the Crew defeated Chicago 2-1, head coach Robert Warzycha pushed his starters
past the 45-minute mark for the first time. They departed after 60 minutes with the score tied at
zero, and the Red Bulls got a pair of goals against the Crew’s second unit.

After wins against Chicago and D.C. United, the Crew closes its slate in Bradenton with a 2-1
record.

The Red Bulls got goals in the 80th and 89th minutes. The Crew’s best chance came in the first
half when rookie forward Ryan Finley rang the crossbar from point-blank range.

At the half, Ben Speas replaced Finlay and Konrad Warzycha subbed in for Tchani. Both would play
the entirety of the second half. They were joined by Daniel Withrow, Chad Barson, Drew Beckie, Eric
Gehrig, Kyle Hyland, Shawn Sloan, Wil Trapp, Blake Brettschneider, Justin Meram.

The second unit:

Brettschneider Sloan

Speas Warzycha Meram

Trapp

Hyland Beckie Gehrig Barson
Withrow

Notes:
Eddie Gaven served as the team captain two days after Federico Higuain took his turn with the
armband. Andy Gruenebaum, Danny O’Rourke and Aaron Schoenfeld were all inactive for the second
straight match due to unspecified injuries believed to be minor. We also did not see trialist
Sercan Güvenisik, who scored on a penalty kick in the team’s 1-0 win against D.C. United last
Saturday. He might have suffered an injury Wednesday against the Fire.

The first-team defense has not allowed a goal yet this preseason.

Finlay replaced Meram with the first unit.

The Crew now returns to Columbus tomorrow before departing Feb. 6 for Orlando, where it will
take part in the Disney Pro Soccer Classic.